Mitch Evans wins inaugural Formula E round in Indonesia
Mitch Evans has stormed to victory to claim the first ever Formula E race in Indonesia.
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The Kiwi made the most of the hot conditions as tyres and batteries struggled in the hot conditions to take his third race win of the season.
Evans made the defining move of the race on lap 31, lunging past Jean-Éric Vergne for the lead.
He held on narrowly from Vergne and the late-charging Edoardo Mortara in the final stages as the top-three crossed the line within a second of each other.
Mitch Evans celebrates after holding off Jean-Eric Vergne and Edoardo Mortara to claim victory in Jakarta. (FIA Formula E)
"It was a long one," said Evans.
"The attack started quite early, it was kinda predictable with the battery temp limitations so once they started with it, just had to try and be smart about it."
"I think we timed both attacks pretty well, especially the second one was quite crucial. My first one wasn't that effective… I was maybe a little bit too cautious, just really thinking about the end of the race."
"And then the second attack, I was hoping to catch JEV a bit quicker, but couldn't really manage it, it was quite hard to find the big benefit with the attack [mode] today just because of the rear tyre limitation."
"Then I was in a really good rhythm after the attack and sorta just creep up towards him, and then one lap I just got myself quite close and I opted to go for the move at turn seven."
"Clean racing."
Evans said he was able to manage the conditions from the lead, with all three drivers struggling with tyre pressures and battery temperatures.
The battle with Vergne for the lead also allowed Mortara to catch the front-running pair.
"Fortunately, the energy was quite similar between all of us so there was no massive advantage on the last lap," said Evans.
"But it was a hard race."
"Even physically, it was not easy towards the end."
Mitch Evans celebrates on the podium in Jakarta. (FIA Formula E)
Stoffel Vandoorne holds the lead of the championship standings, with Vergne moving up to second after his podium finish.
Evans consolidated fourth place in the standings, coming off back-to-back wins in Rome before a disappointing double-header in Berlin.
"I just wanna thank the team, because you know, Berlin was a bit of a struggle for us."
"To come here with a completely different approach, they gave me the tools to qualify at the front, and obviously race at the front."
Now, said Evans, "I just wanna chill for a bit."
The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship returns 2 July in Marrakesh before the season-ending double-header 16-17 July in New York.
2022 FIA Formula E World Championship - Jakarta E-Prix
- Mitch Evans (NZ)
- Jean-Eric Vergne
- Edoardo Mortara
- Antonio Felix da Costa
- Stoffel Vandoorne
- Jake Dennis
- Lucas di Grassi
- Pascal Wehrlein
- Sam Bird
- Sebastien Buemi
- Andre Lotterer
- Oliver Turvey
- Oliver Askew
- Maximilian Gunther
- Alexander Sims
- Nick Cassidy (NZ)
- Robin Frijns
- Dan Ticktum
- Sergio Sette Camara
- Antonio Giovinazzi - DNF
- Nyck de Vyres - DNF
- Oliver Rowland - DNF
